Oxygen therapy explained
COPD patients sometimes have too little oxygen in their blood. This is called oxygen deprivation. Your body, and in particular your organs and muscles, need oxygen to function properly. In the event of oxygen deficiency, your doctor may prescribe oxygen therapy.
Sometimes you only need oxygen temporarily, for example:
- during an infection or pulmonary crisis (exacerbation)
- after pneumonia
- after pulmonary embolism, fluid accumulation in the lungs or pneumothorax
In this case, your doctor will prescribe oxygen for you to use at home for several weeks, or even up to three months. Often, the body recovers within two to four weeks, and oxygen therapy is then stopped naturally.
If your blood oxygen level is still insufficient after three months, the doctor will consider whether you can benefit from long-term oxygen therapy.
1 Long-term oxygen therapy
In some people, blood oxygen levels remain too low for long periods and long-term oxygen therapy is necessary. The administration of oxygen day and night (24h/day) can improve survival and/or reduce symptoms, among other things, in patients suffering from severe and persistent oxygen deprivation.
2 Where oxygen can be administered
- in hospital
- at home, but only under appropriate supervision and after explanation by the doctor or nurse
3 Forms of oxygenation
- Oxygen cylinders: contain oxygen under high pressure
- Oxygen concentrator: electrical device that extracts oxygen from the air.
- Liquid oxygen: stored in a special tank, ideal for people who need a lot of oxygen.
4 How oxygen is delivered
- With nasal goggles
- Through a face mask
- Nasal probe